GENI Milestones

Major events that shaped GENI or that GENI helped to shape, in reverse chronological order:

2009

• GENI 2009 Project Summary
  

2008

• GENI 2008 Project Summary
  
• GENI-us Newsletter Monthly Distribution passes 1400 (December)
  
• GENI-us Newsletter Monthly Distribution passes 1100 (January)

2007

• GENI 2007 Project Summary
  
• GENI-us Newsletter Monthly Distribution passes 1000 (September)
  
• GENI-us Newsletter Monthly Distribution passes 800 (March)

2006

• GENI-us Newsletter Monthly Distribution passes 700 (November)
  
• GENI-us Newsletter Monthly Distribution passes 600 (July)

2005

• Best Renewable Energy Policies from Around the World
  • GENI Newsletter either mailed or presented at all the below mentioned Conferences that GENI attended. This was a prime focus of 2005.
    
• VIP Database Development and Mailing
• Alex (intern) updated GENI data base of all world leaders (top 5 in each country) and put together mailing a personalized mailing to 800 world leaders (5 from every nation) prior to UN Millenium Assessment Summit.
• UNEP Mayors Conference
  • GENI intern mailed Renewable Energy Policy package to all 150 international big city mayors at the UNEP Mayors Conference in San Francisco meeting on Environmental Sustainability. Numerous replies received.
    
• Buckminster Fuller Design Science Lab
  • GENI partnered with BFI to launch this week-long workshop with Medard Gabel, of OS Earth (formerly the World Game)
    
• World Resources Simulation Center
  • GENI coordinated with 6 Bucky Fuller experts to discuss, plan, and envisage the World Resources Simulation Center.
    
• GENI Local Area Network upgrade, Web Site upgrade
  • Paul-Michael Dekker continues update of GENI's web site and LAN. We've worked with 6 interns this year who have worked on a variety of web site, marketing, research and administration projects..
  • GENI News feature (allowing viewing of GENI News on sites who want to display this news) is established. This is GENI's first active online promotional feature.
    
• GENI-us Newsletter Monthly Distribution passes 500

2004

• Best Renewable Energy Policies from Around the World
  • GENI 2004 Newsletter mailed globally to 14,000 people in November and December, 2004. This is printed in 4 colors and mailed to the top five leaders in every nation: President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Energy Minister and UN Ambassador. We received numerous, unsolicited thank you letters for this piece.
  • This newsletter became our prime focus in 2004. Why? The fastest way to expand renewable energy development is with progressive government policies at all levels: federal, state and local.
• KLD Index Development
  • KLD Index Development. GENI to partner with KLD in creating the Global Climate 100 Index. KLD GC100 Index agreement signed October 2004
• Buckminster Fuller Postage Stamp Launch
  • Preparation and media coverage combine for for excellent event on July 12 with GENI staff, San Diego Postmaster, Stamp Designer, and Bucky Play's Doug Jacobs.
• Global VIP Endorsement Campaign
  • Intern Zeno Becker heads GENI Endorsement Campaign targeting 400 world VIPs, and top two endorsements received are from Carol Bellamy, Ex Director of UNICEF and Achim Steiner, Director of IUCN (The World Conservation Union)
    
• GENI-us Newsletter Monthly Distribution passes 400
  • Paul-Michael Dekker continues to maintain GENI's web site on a part-time basis. He works with several talented interns during the year on web development and marketing projects. Initially set up last year, Paul-Michael refines our printed monthly donor letter into a monthly e-zine called the GENI-us Letter, and begins review of monthly donor letters before publication.

2003

2002

• GENI: 2002 Game Plan

2001

2000

• 2000 Game Plan

1999

1998

• 1998 Game Plan

1997

1996

Project Reviews

• IEEE Presentation in Baltimore, The Benefits of Linking Renewable Energy Resources in Developing Counties, and abstract printed in IEEE Power Engineering Review

• Sustainable Development Conference at UN Plaza, produced by IBC. Peter presents and co-chairs with Joanne Fox-Prezworski, North American Director of UNEP. This is where Peter Meisen meets Ron Williams, Director of R & D for General Motors. His statement, This is the most thoughtful and scientific solution he's seen to solve the world's problems.
• Habitat II Prepatory Conference held in San Diego. Presentation by Peter Meisen, and GENI�s recommended item is added to UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) Document: The interconnection of electrical networks should be encouraged between neighboring countries, with specific emphasis on the interconnection of renewable energy resources.
• Peter Meisen presents The GENI Initiative at the Buckminster Fuller Institute in Santa Barbara. Harry Kroto is special guest, and later honored with Nobel Chemistry Prize for Buckyballs.

• Change the World in April, The World Game™ is hosted in San Diego and Santa Barbara. The events were fully sponsored, raised several thousand dollars, and generated good radio and print media in both cities.

• Peter is invited to present the GENI Initiative to the Lead Development Association in Turin, Italy (the LDA�s largest usage is plating of underwater and buried cable). Additional meetings are held in Geneva with the Aga Khan Foundation, The World Economic Forum, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The WBCSD asks for an article for their Sustain newsletter (to be published in Jan. 1997)

• The 5^th World Renewable Energy Conference in Denver. Peter presents The GENI Initiative during a plenary panel (about 300 in attendance), meets US Secretary of Energy Hazel O� Leary, and presents the Computer Model proposal to the Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Director (proposal rejected in December)
• Peter invited to give opening keynote in Toronto at the World Energy Systems Conference (Proceedings to be published later.)

• African panel session on Electrical Interconnections held at IEEE Power Engineering Society meeting in Denver. Peter co-chairs session and presents papers of absent experts. Reports are featured cover on IEEE Power Engineering Review in January 1997.

• San Diego hosts Republican National Convention. GENI distributes over 100 press releases each day at Press Center, presents on Economic Conversion panel at the Alternative Media Center, meets Newt Gingrich, Elizabeth Dole, Senator John McCain, and all press members of the McLaughlin Group (PBS) and Capitol Gang (CNN), plus does a bit of guerilla marketing.

• Peter meets Vice-President Al Gore at Democratic fund-raiser and gives him GENI update

• The 2nd State of the World Forum hosted by The Gorbachev Foundation. Peter presents GENI at three different Roundtable sessions, and develops the contacts for GENI to become a "Forum Initiative."

• Lowell & April Blankfort (former GENI Board), Janathin Miller and Bill & Cindy Shopoff host GENI fund raising events at their homes.
• Ambassador Jules Minoves i Triquell visits the GENI International Office. The Ambassador is from Andorra to the US and UN, and is currently the Vice-Chairman of the UN General Assembly. He took the proposal for the "Connect 2000" International Conference.
• Peter is an invited international guest to the Latin America State of the World Forum in Guanajuato, Mexico. Presentations are made at the Globalization and Environmental Roundtables. Written and video-taped endorsement is received from the Forum Chairman, Governor Vicente Fox of the State of Guanajuato. Peter meets former Secretary of State James Baker, Egypt's First Lady Jehan Sadat, and UNESCO Director Frederico Mayor. Long conversations had with Pavel Palaschenko, translator and advisor to President Gorbachev for last 10 years.
• NOVEM (The Netherlands Energy and Environmental Agency) invites Peter to present The GENI Initiative at Energy Conversion Days (about 120 Dutch energy environmentalists). The presentation is translated into Dutch for the program, and a feature article runs at the same time in "Sustainable Development" magazine, published in the UK.
• In London, Peter presents to the Energy Division of the Royal Institute of International Affairs. He has an extensive meeting with the Shell Long Range Planning Group to discuss potential involvement in the Computer Model.
• In Brussels, Peter meets with the Director of Energy R&D for the European Commission who invites us back to meet the entire group next trip. A meeting is also held with the President of AIESEC, an international student organization committed to developing leadership — and discussing ways to involve youth into this project.
• Bill Shopoff contacts over 200 clients and associates to inform them of The GENI Initiative and invites them to financially support the project. Working with Joanalys, he negotiates potential venture capital partnership for the GENI Computer Model.
  
  HUGE WORK for a small volunteer organization committed to engineering a better world.
  (Note: This summary doesn't include results from the GENI Affiliates, which were many.)

1995

Project Reviews

• GENI again coordinates with International Practices Committee of IEEE/PES the panel session on "East/West Europe Electricity Infrastructure, Interconnections and Electrical Exchanges."

• GENI gets the cover and feature article in Simulation magazine, "The GENI Model: The Interconnection of Global Power Resources to Obtain an Optimal Global Sustainable Energy Solution."

• GENI sponsors and organizes the Buckminster Fuller Symposium and Centennial Celebration for 600 participants. Activities include a multi-media Opening Ceremony, several World Games, Symposia by 15 colleagues and students of Bucky, a Film Festival, display of the only remaining Dymaxion Car, and a Bucky for Kids Festival.
• The New Scientist, a major scientific publication of the commonwealth countries, features "Global Power, The Electric Hypergrid" with a focus on GENI as the organization driving the idea.
• Picking up on the article just days after it's release, the BBC interviews GENI's founder, Peter Meisen and the article's author, Fred Pearce.

• GENI receives extensive media coverage throughout Australia and Singapore. The fund raising campaign revisits seven cities in these areas to add $40,000 to Fund the Vision Campaign.

• GENI presents in Japan at the Northern Forum to governors representing provinces of the 21 northern latitude states. Walter Hickel is the Secretary General of The Northern Forum and a staunch proponent of the GENI Initiative.
• At the invitation of Mikhail Gorbachev, Peter Meisen attends the State of the World Forum in San Francisco with 400 others from around the world. Hundreds of world business, spiritual and political leaders, including President Gorbachev, are introduced to the GENI Initiative. Many express genuine interest in the strategy.

• GENI exhibits and presents at the '95 World Energy Conference in Japan attended by 3000 of the world's core energy industry and ministry leaders, World Bank and United Nations energy specialists. The World Bank representative for Asia expresses a need for a planning tool for the entire Asian region.

• The film team is formed in Los Angeles to produce a documentary entitled The Powerful Planet.

1994

Project Reviews

January

• Mechanical Engineering magazine of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers runs feature story, "Connecting the world's electrical grids. Transmission systems that send bulk power over long distances are proving that global energy networks are technically feasible if economic and political incentives surge."

February

• GENI helps coordinate panel session at IEEE Power Engineering Society winter meeting on "Latin America: Infrastructure, Interconnections and Electrical Exchanges." Presenters include energy ministers, World Bank infrastructure experts, utility presidents.

April

• GENI presents at Global Conference of Society for International Development in Mexico City. GENI exhibit is seen by development experts from 50 nations as well as the development banks and United Nations agencies.

May

• The second round of contribution evenings produces another $100,000 in cash and pledges. In addition, GENI receives a major gift of $130,000 -- bringing the "Fund the Vision Campaign" total to over $300,000.

June

• IEEE Power Engineering Review features the January panel session entitled "Latin American Power Policy Reforms."

July

• GENI co-coordinates IEEE panel on Middle East interconnections.

August - October

• GENI exhibits at
  • US Dept of Energy National Renewable Energy Lab Conference entitled "Partners in Commercialization." Denver, CO
  • 1st International Conference of Computer Simulation Societies (includes presentation). Zurich, Switzerland
  • International Conference on Large High-Voltage Electric Systems. Paris, France
  • United Nations Conference on Population and Development. Cairo, Egypt
  • International Exposition in Beijing, China entitled "Electric Power China 94."
• Presentations to:
  • CEPSI 94 Conference of the Electricity Power Supply Industry in East Asia and the Western Pacific. Christchurch, NZ
  • Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories. Richland, Washington
• GENI Hong Kong Affiliate established.

September

• Alaska Governor Walter Hickel presents keynote address to opening session of the United Nations NGO Conference entitled "Why War? Why Not Big Projects?" The GENI project is the featured proposal for world peace. Proposal is delivered personally to Secretary General Boutos Boutros-Ghali.

December

• "Middle East Power Policy" is featured article in IEEE/Power Engineering Review after GENI coordinates with the International Practices Committee at Summer meeting in July.

1993

Project Reviews

January

• GENI helps coordinate a panel session entitled "International Electric Networks: An Historical and Future Perspective of the World Bank and United Nations" at IEEE/PES winter meeting in Columbus, Ohio. Hosted by the International Practices Committee, this session is featured in the IEEE Power Engineering Review publication in July '93.

January - March

• Three articles on GENI appear in global magazines:
  • "Unbottling the GENI" in Tomorrow: Global Environment Business;
  • "Worldwide Interconnections May Be An Idea Whose Time Has Come" in Transmission & Distribution International; and
  • a GENI story in Development, the Journal of the Society for International Development.

March

• GENI presentation is made to the Mission Earth Task Force of the Society for Computer Simulation. Several of the world's top modelers are committed to assisting on the GENI Computer Model.

April

• Meetings take place in Washington, DC to establish relationships with the US Department of Energy, National Wildlife Federation, World Resources Institute, Organization of American States, Business Executives for National Security, Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs.

July

• The paper "International Interconnections to Renewable Resources" written by GENI, published in the annual Power Generation Technology book, is distributed to 8,500 industry officials around the world. GENI's co-authors are Joe Falcon, President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and Tom Hammons, Chairman of the International Practices Committee of IEEE/PES.
• Campaign is launched in 12 cities around the world to Fund the Vision of GENI. Pledges are directed to produce the GENI Computer Simulation Model. Sponsorship begins for the one-hour Documentary/Film for international broadcast systems.
• Funding commitments of $100,000 are pledged via contribution evenings.

August - September

• GENI makes Keynote presentations to the International Solar Energy Society and the Transmission & Distribution International Exposition. Both trade groups report on GENI's work in their magazines. 

September

• One week after Yitzhak Rabin and Yasir Arafat shake hands for Peace on the White House lawn, Newsweek reports a story on rebuilding the Palestinians' homeland. Under the heading of "Dreaming up Peace Projects," the lead item is "Power Grids: Interlocking electricity grids could save Israelis and Arabs millions of dollars."

October

• GENI International Office expands its staffing and size as Computer Simulation Model team initiates work.

November

• The Mission Earth Task Force of the Society for Computer Simulation (SCS) endorses and begins advising the GENI Computer Model research project. GENI is featured in an article in Simulation, the SCS magazine, on "Simulation in the Service of Society."
• GENI's participation at the Clinton Administration "Technology Summit" enables meetings with the Director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Directors of the Office of Science and Technology Policy

1992

Project Reviews

January

• Russians and Americans met in Anchorage, Alaska to discuss The Potential of an Electrical Interconnection Between Russia and North America. Hosted by the Alaska Energy Authority and GENI, these power engineers began the study of an underwater linkage between the two continents, making available the enormous renewable potential of the region.
• Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Power Engineering Society (IEEE/PES) hosted a panel session in New York on Remote Renewable Energy Sources made Possible by High Voltage Interconnections. Panelists state that massive untapped renewable energy exists, and is available with current technology.

March

• Noel Brown, North American Director of The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) stated that GENI is one of the most important opportunities to further the cause of environmental protection and sustainable development. UNEP agreed to co-sponsor an international conference, deepening the investigation globally, including the financial and diplomatic communities.

June

• GENI exhibit at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit was seen by thousands from around the world. Relationships established with energy and environmental research organizations, as well as NGOs from every continent. Dozens of press interviews held, including the Wall Street Journal, Japan's Business Newspaper, Public Broadcasting, the World Monitor, and the BBC.
• The IEEE/PES magazine Power Engineering Review cover story was on "Tapping Remote Renewables." Over 23,000 engineers involved in research, manufacturing and utility planning received the article.

August/September

• GENI participates in the International Conference on Large High Voltage Electric Systems (CIGRE) and the '92 World Energy Conference. Meetings are held with many top utility officials, energy ministers and electrical engineers from around the world.
• GENI Computer Simulation Model is conceived which would be a cost/benefit management tool designed for energy decision makers allowing comparison of renewable vs. fossil fuel/nuclear energy sources. It would factor in quality of life indicators including infant mortality, life expectancy, literacy and safe drinking water, as well as criteria for meeting the environmental standards set forth by the Earth Summit Agenda 21 signed by nations around the world. Initial requests are made to global engineering firms, the World Bank and development banks for funding this simulation.

1991

Project Reviews

February

• GENI formed as a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to conduct research and educate all people to the benefits of linking international and inter-regional electric energy networks linked to renewable eneergy.

July

• International Workshop on the Limits of Long Distance High-Voltage Power Transmission and the Corresponding Economic, Environmental and Socio-Political Implications. Hosted by the Manitoba HVDC Research Centre and GENI, 36 multi-disciplined experts from around the world gathered in Winnipeg, Canada. They concurred on the potential benefits of expanding power networks between nations and continents.

September

• A 15 minute video A WIN-WIN Solution released, featuring interviews with a dozen specialists from the Winnipeg workshop. Strong corroboration for the initiative is expressed by engineers, environmentalists and diplomats.

1990

1989

Project Reviews

November

• A 15 minute video What If . . . A New Global Option released to explain the proposal to the general public. Introduced by John Denver, the video has been viewed on all continents.

1988

1987

1986

Project Reviews

GENI founded to investigate the idea by R. Buckminster Fuller, proposing a Global Electric Energy Grid as the number one priority to solve many of the world's most pressing problems.